Heavy is the Head - Campaign thread

Sha, give an dexterity or athletics check (DC 10) to move other things around while carrying the egg.

- ... kill me, please ... - the genasi mutters, as she lets the always patient Hemlock continue with the useful questions.

Lam doesn’t like Fitzwhistle’s plan to turn himself into a construct. He doesn’t know why, but he doesn’t like it. He thinks about the things he’s learned, trying to think if he knows anything useful for the situation.

When Aanabeth starts speaking again, Lam is visibly startled- a motion which is exaggerated by his weightlessness. He lets out a small growl in the hologram’s direction before he remembers to be polite. Seeing his friends get upset and every avenue of questioning they try get shut down, he gets up and begins pacing around the room, focusing on his breath.

As Sha is helping with the food and carrying the egg, a slight misbalance has the egg fall to the cround with a sharp smack. There is a visible crack, but no fluid is leaking out, which is probably a good sign. Carefully picking it up again, it feels the same as it did before, but it's almost impossible to know whether the infant inside was injured.

"Ooh! I hadn't though of that. It's an excellent question, and one she might know the answer to. I won't listen though, don't want to be reminded of anything dangerous, you see. Let me know how it goes! Oh, Anabeth!"

"How can I be of assistance?"

"Oh, you tease. Tell my fine friends a record of who has entered the tower in the last 20 years." Fitzwhistle props his fingers into his ears and begins singing loudly, distractingly, in an annoying monotone. "LALALALALALALALALALALALA"

"22.4 years ago, Wizard Fitzwhistle entered the tower via the front door and registered as primary wizard of the outpost. For 0.9 years he regularly entered the tower. On 4 occasions he was accompanied by a non-wizard guest. 1 individual, a halfling, once, and a dryad on 3 occasions. Then no activity for a period of 1.2 years. Then Fitzwhistle entered the tower again 20.3 years ago. 5 separate failed attempts to open the front door over the course of 1.4 years. No activity from fully sentient creatures for 16 years, although non-humanoid creatures began to regularly enter and exit the conjuration room. 2.9 years ago, failed attempt to open the main door, followed by a breach of the top floor by one individual, human-elf hybrid. No activity for 2 years. 15 separate failed attempts to open the front door in the last 10 months, and 5 successful attempts, neutralized in the evocation room or by harpies in the conjuration room. Prolonged attempt to enter the front door this morning leading to successful entry by 6 individuals: Bugbear, Genasi, Tabaxi, Firbolg, Lizardfolk, Human. This concludes the record of entry."

"LALALALALA -" Fitzwhistle is interrupted by Ali pulling his fingers back out of his ears, not particularly gently. "The illusion is silent. You can be as well."

Lam's regular footsteps lift him slightly off the ground at first, unless he walks very softly on purpose.

Hemlock is experiencing the same delightful weightlessness.

- What do you mean "human" ... ? - Saoirse asks, and then frowns - Of course. Eliza. Gods damn that woman! She might already be with us, using invisibility or something like that. And the half-elf, was that Tux? - she thinks for a moment - So does this mean that the one that did this to you was either Rhys, or Tux, or the dryad? But that can't be possible. Definitely not Tux, because he did try to help you ... and Rhys? No, impossible. Who was the dryad, Fitzwhistle?

Since learning that Eliza might be inside the very room they are in, Saoirse will try to be alert and pay attention to any sound or any weird movement that doesn't add up to the visible humanoids already in the room, though detecting an invisible being might prove almost impossible.

Hemlock also tenses up at the mention of the human that had entered today, coming to the same conclusion as Saoirse regarding Eliza. If his [Tooltip Not Found] is still active, he will try and focus anything that is illusory magic.

Perception: 3+6=9 (passive 16)

"None of the entries into the tower match the time Fitzwhistle has been stuck here I don't think. We do need to speak to the Dryad, but knowing where you were before you entered 20.3 years ago would be helpful. Might you have gone to the Grave Fort you mentioned then?".

Saoirse notices a couple drawers of the potions table haning open, and she's almost certain that they were closed before. The pages of a book rustle slightly on the desk on the opposite window, and you're pretty sure it had not been lying open when you arrived. Hemlock can definitely sense illusory magic... but that could be all manner of things in a room such as this, including the apparitionof 'Anabeth.'

Fitzwhistle answers your questions with a continued enthusiasm for any company at all, oblivious to your concern about a sixth guest. "Yeah, Tux was a half elf. A dryad, you ask? Well, they say it's rude to kiss and tell, but I'm a young, attractive, interesting Gnome with needs, and I was when I first came here, too. So I brought a girlfriend home to the outpost a few times. Doesn't mean she did this to me. Plus, I remember her just fine. Very fine, actually. She had long, flowing hair, a kind and nurturing spirit, and brilliant, dexterous hands! She was a weaver, hopefully still is. I built a miniature loom for her, and the things she made were wonderful. This rug (he gestures to the middle of the room) is actually one of hers. I hope she still lives at their Village Tree. Maybe she could visit me again, now that you know how to open the doors? (Hope shines from his distracted smile). Yeah... well the period just before 20.3 years ago is the period I don't remember. I would have gone on my expedition there didn't happen can't remember won't remember if I hadn't hurt my head, and the grave fort never been don't remember would have been one of my first stops didn't happen. So that would be a fine theory if I hadn't already solved it: no expedition happened, I stayed right here stay there till you rot with a head injury."

Ali interrupts. "Why would Strixwell have burned the Drakewood? What artefact did she contract the Society to find?" The interruption is uncharacteristic, and Hemlock and Saoirse both notice that he seems slightly anxious after the mention of a human visitor.

"Oh, not a specific artefact, mind, all she had was rumors there was something here. I had assumed some relic of the high elves, but the more I stayed the more I suspected ouch no, nothing, not real... something else. As for the drakewood, I can only theorise, but I love to theorise! Dragons have stayed uninvolved with humanoid affairs since the calamity and the rise of the True King. After his death, many have theorised that their pacts with the king might not be binding anymore. If Strixwell targeted the drakewood, and the legends that it was a breeding ground are true, she may have simply been collecting some leverage against potential challengers to her rise to power. A clever move, and for those who have read Xanathars guide to tactics and logistics, it brings to mind the quote.........."

Fitzwhistle will happily continue a rambling response until interrupted.

Hemlock is satisfied that the gnome has answered all his questions, except one, but that can wait. "Apologies if this causes a little mess", he says to Fitzwhistle.

He then concentrates his magic and starts to chant in druidic, over and over again. Leaves start to fall in the room, the effect moving around in a sweeping pattern so that they appear in all areas of the room over time. He keeps a close eye on any leaves that don't hit a visible surface.

Sha-gravis, with a tear in his eye, sets the egg in a safe place.  Noticing Saoirse and Hemlock responding to Anabeth’s message Sha enhances his vision scanning the room.

Lam is surprised when his own footsteps begin to lift him off the ground, and it brings his awareness back to keeping himself grounded rather than getting upset. Lam, just like his friends, tenses up when Anabeth mentions that a human had also entered. He stops in his tracks and puts his full focus on trying to scan the room for the unwanted visitor, scarcely listening to Fitzwhistle anymore.

The light dusting of leaves slowly sweeping the room land on something invisible beside the potions table, but otherwise don't seem to reveal anything new. When Sha-Gravis' magic reveals the unseen to him, he can see that those leaves are resting on a transluscent ball of magical force, Fitzwhistle's unseen servant. Sha also sees, however, Eliza's slightly transparent form, deftly stepping out of the way of the leaf shower and avoiding stepping on any of the crisp leaves. She is standing over the desk on the opposite window, slowly and carefully pouring over a book, and glancing nervously over her shoulder at all of you. She had clearly hoped to keep her presence here a secret, and still intends to avoid detection. She does not yet know that Sha-Gravis can see her.

Ali, on the other hand, can hear Sha's incantation, and deduce from your reaction that you have spotted Eliza. "There is no need for violence. Our interests all align."

Fitzwhistle is still chattering about old books and possible strategies and alliances, until Ali's last sentence. Then he perks up a little. "Oh, I thought the six of you were all friends! This is starting to get even more exciting than just having guests! Flybert, Cubert, Fitz2, we've got a possible code indigo here." The constructs, including the humanoid construct intended to be the Artificer's new body, hum to life and stand, or float or fly, ready for action. "Absolutely thrilling! I do hope that we can just talk this out, and that you help me kill myself and move over into Fitz2, but if the worst case scenario involves me getting to finally test these constructs for battle-readiness, that would be thrilling! So whose working with who and who wants what? All of this for little old me? You know, battle-smithing was my primary research area, before I left the guild to join the Society of Brilliance. I'm no fan of war, mind, but tactics and battle-smithing are always fasci-" "Shut up, please."

Ali has an arrow notched, and his other hand on the hilt of his sword. Eliza, visible only to Sha, notice's Ali's change in stance, and takes out her spellbook, her free hand goes up into the starting form for many evocation spells.

For a split second Hemlock thinks he has uncovered Eliza's whereabouts, before he realises it is simply a ball shape. But then Ali starts speaking as he knows where Eliza is, making him absolutely certain she is in the room.

As Fitzwhislte keeps going on and on, he turns at the same time Ali says to shut up, he says "Enough".

"How can you say our interests align? She wants to claim the reward for Fitzwhislte here and pilfer whatever she can from the tower. And you know what has to happen for her to claim the reward, right?", he says to Ali. "We let her walk away with her life, she has chosen to decline. She will have to show herself and be very persuasive to get a second chance".

Lam cannot see Eliza and has no idea where she is in the room, but Ali and Hemlock’s speech make him sure that she is here somewhere. He has no idea what is going on or what Fitzwhistle is talking about, but he can read the room- violence might be about to happen. He grabs his greataxe- reeling a bit from his altered sense of motion- and stands, tense, darting his eyes between the constructs, Fitzwhistle, Ali and the rest of the empty space in the room.

Saoirse frowns when she hears Ali say that their interests and Eliza's align. Hemlock couldn't have put it better, but she reacts too:

- What do you mean by that, Ali? "Our interests align"? Are you two in cahoots or what? - She remembered the lizardfolk saying that he liked one of Eliza's dead companions. Did they all know each other? Did they work together somehow?

In any case, her main interest is Eliza, so following Sha's gaze, she looks at where she thinks the wizard may be standing and says in a menacing tone:

- Drop the invisibility right now, Eliza. You are at disadvantage. Show yourself or I'll be more than happy to finish what we started a while ago.

Sha-gravis uses twilight sanctuary with vestaments of duality giving up a 2nd level spell slot for magical darkness as a bonus action after which he and his allies will recieve 6 temp hp.  “Let’s not be so hasty.”  

"Hot damn, you're bringing out the big guns. Alright, invisibility is dropped, but Lizardman here is still with me, right? His best chance to get to Strixwell is my best chance at getting my friend back from the Hammerstones, and you still haven't told me what you want, but you can take most of the reward money, as far as I'm concerned. Plus it turns out that the gnome wants to die, anyway. Maybe his construct resurrection plan will even work. No offense, Cobblepot. I've dropped the invisibility like you asked, but I'm not coming out of the darkness until I know you're not about to kill me as soon as you can see me."

The darkness surrounding Eliza is deep and complete. She's certainly not reading anything in there, and most spells require the Caster to see the target, so you're free from that, too, for the moment.

"The wizardess speaks true. I will work with whoever can get me closer to recovering what Strixwell took. This is my best chance. I made her a promise. Honor does not permit betrayal. You have said you are exploring this tower. She can help make sense of your discoveries." Ali does not seem like he's about to apologize. Clearly his actions are justified to his moral code.

"Wow, the lighting change, the delightful soothing feeling in this twilight, it's really something! I've always been fascinated by the magic of Clerics. You know, the leading theory in the Society is that God's power is derived from collective belief, and that focused belief is what allows clerics to function. The interesting thing about that theory is the recursion of belief - a powerless God is not worth believing in, but without belief a God has no power. This particular effect isn't one I'm familiar with - neither Shar nor Selune. Who is it you worship? Clearly the following is large enough to create a recursive power system..." Fitzwhistle does not seem to be following the conversation at all, distracted by his own thoughts. The constructs still stand at the ready, however, and tension remains in the air.

Hemlock looks around at the twilight he now stands in, and the pitch darkness beyond, where Eliza's voice is coming from. He tries to take in all that his being said.

"Ali, you would turn on us after we freed you from imprisonment? I am surprised. And Eliza, our reasons for being here are our own to keep, but I am sure we told you we had no interest in harming Fitzwhistle".

He stands there unsure really what to do, and looks to Sha, Saoirse and Lam and simply shrugs. "I do not wish to fight, but nor am I happy about the deception that has gone on here".

- This is not the way to go, Ali. These deceptions will only earn you our distrust, and this will make you go against Strixwell in fewer numbers. Good luck trying to achieve anything that way. 

Though she is as upset as Hemlock, she makes an effort to try to calm down and look for a friendly way out. What she's said to Ali is also true for them: they'll have better chances against Strixwell if they count on Ali, and even on Eliza. And if they want them to be honest, perhaps they should set the example themselves. Even if the druid has already stated that their reasons are their own to keep.

- I'll explain my reasons, but you'd better tell us yours fully and with no more deceptions from now on. As a member of the Blood of the True King, I want to uncover every detail regarding the figure of Gareth Dayne. My people and I have been following him and his teachings with a reverence that I've reasons to believe is not deserved. I want to unmask him, to know the truth, and to share it with my peolpe so we don't keep living with a blindfold covering our eyes. Also, I recently met someome from my past who I thought was dead. He was being controlled by a collar created with blood and enchantment magic. This collar made him a puppet of a wizard woman working for Strixwell, and I believe there are more like them. I want them free. I want to stop Strixwell from creating and using these collars. 

She pauses for a moment, and continues again:

- Strixwell wants to take the Crown of Divine Right for herself, and cannot let her have it. She has enough power already as she is. If she were to get the crown, then she would surely be unstoppable. So you see, Ali, our interests do align. But not with Eliza's, who was ready to claim Strixwell's bounty by killing Cobblepot. He knows something about the Crown that Strixwell doesn't want to be know. So I say: we need to work together and make him remember. Hopefully, without having to kill him and transfer his conscience to an automaton. 

Lam does not let go of his greataxe, but he does let his arms fall and holds his greataxe limply in front of him as he listens and tries to make sense of what’s going on. He can feel himself getting angry at Ali and Eliza for whatever they just pulled, but at the same time he furrows his brow as he listens. He doesn’t hear a good reason to fight? Except that the two of them want to kill Cobblepot. But maybe Cobblepot wants that? But… Lam is deep in thought.

When Saoirse starts to reveal everything, Lam is surprised at first- weren’t they not allowed to say things because of the guild? But Saoirse never revealed the guild’s existence, and everything else she said is true. He appreciates her ability to lay it out so clearly, and nods along. He asks the darkness where Eliza is, his voice filled more with curiosity than animosity at this point: “Who is friend from Hammerstones?” 

"Saffron Gale, though I doubt that means anything to you. They nabbed her back in the city, and I'm not about to let her rot in prison or in some gods-forsaken mine. But if everything you all say is true... Mind control and Strixwell her*******self trying to use prison labor to get some legendary crown and world domination... then I definitely need to get her out of there as soon as possible, as sure as possible. If we bring in enough to claim the bounty on Mr 'a few pebbles short of a pot' here, then I'm thinking I can bargain for Saffi's freedom, and Ali can get to talk to somebody who really knows what's up. See, all cards on the table." Eliza steps out of the darkness slowly towards the rest of you, her hands up, placing her feet carefully and awkwardly to avoid falling in her blindness. 

"So Strixwell seeks the crown. We can not allow this to pass. Eliza, we must not turn the gnome in to them if he knows anything. He must die, and I will find another path to hunt her down. Friends, you only told me you meant to climb the tower and learn. So did I. Your quarrel with Eliza is no concern of mine. Now I have learned that we can not suffer his information to fall into the enemy's hands. I am with you and against Strixwell, until I have recovered what she took."

Fitzwhistle has fallen to the ground again, clutching his temples and rocking back and forth. "The crown doesn't exist, just a myth, just a myth. Stay there till you rot. Can't talk about it, can't remember, won't remember, just a myth, just a dream, bumped your head. No such thing as the crown of divine right, no sir. Didn't leave, didn't go, didn't see anything. Nononononononononononononononononononononononono go back to your workship, lock the doors, don't talk to anyone outside, stay there till you rot, forget everything that led you to me don't remember won't remember stay there till you rot... no such thing doesn't exist nonono..............." This is a particularly bad attack of Fitzwhistle's pain. Clearly, something you said, and this whole conversation, is making him remember things he can't remember - to psyche-shattering results. Blood begins to drip from his nose.

"It would be a kindness." Ali's becoming more set in his solution, but is not yet ready to trigger the fight that going against you would start.

"No, I don't care about some lord's plan to claim some old jewelery and lord it over the other lords. I just want to get Saffron free, and get enough gold to live a comfortable life. My best chance for that is to carry this gnome to them, alive. He's crazy enough that they won't get anything out of him. Or we can off him after I get Saffi and the money."